Buttonhole substitute.



No. 721,419. PATBNI'ED FEB. 24, 1903.

J. BOYLE. BUTTONHOLE SUBSTITUTE.

APPLICATION nun NOV. 15.1902. no MODEL.

closing spring 4: at the hinge.

UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN BOYLE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BUTTONHOLE SUBSTITUTE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,449, dated February 24, 1903.

Application filed November 15,1902. Serial No. 131,515. (No model.) v

worn out in a garment, it is desirable that it should be replaced by an inexpensive substitute, as the buttonholes often become torn or unduly enlarged while the garment is still in good wearable condition, and this is especially the case with a shirt.

The object of the present invention is to provide such a substitute; and it consists, essen-' tially, of a clasping-holder, which may be of metal, celluloid, or other hard material, and a bit or piece of some fabric-cloth, leather, or the like-having in it a buttonhole. holder, which is in the nature of a frame of any suitable shape, clasps the buttonholepiece and holds it in place on the garment over the worn-out buttonhole therein.

In the drawings, which serve to illustrate the invention, the principal views are drawn to an exaggerated scale in order to better illustrate the construction.

Figure 1 is a face view of the device, showing it applied to a garment. Fig. 2 is an edge View of the device detached, showing the holder open. Fig. 3 is a cross-section at line 00 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4. shows a buttonhole-piece detached. Fig. 5 includes two detail views of the hinge. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 show holders having different contours. Fig. 9 illustrates a modification.

In Fig. 1, A designates the garment having in it aworn buttonhole. The clasping-holder comprises two ring plates 1 and 2, hinged together aty and provided with an opening and Those ring plates are adapted to be opened, made to embrace the fabric of the garment so as to bring the frayed or worn-out buttonhole about central with respect to the plates, and then to be clamped onto the material. The plates have (see Fig. 2) short spurs 5, which bite into the The fabric and secure the holder against slipping. Preferably the outer ring plate 1 will be concave at its'under side and theinner plate convex, so as to clamp the fabric between them, as seen in 'Fig. 3. The buttonhole-piece 6, having in it a buttonhole 7, is of such size and exterior contour as to fit within the outer ring them on the goods. This is effected by secur-' ing the hinging spindle or rod 3 to the hinging-lugs on one plate-the plate 2, for exampleand allowing the lugs of the other plate to turn on said spindle. The spring 4 is formed on the outer plate 1 and bears on the spindle3, which has flattened faces at an angle to each other. When the plates stand open, the spring presses on one of these faces,

.and when they are closed the spring bears on the other face in a manner tohold the plates clamped on the fabrics. The frames or ring plates of the holder may have any desired contour, some varieties of which are ind icated in Figs: '6, 7," and 8. There may be provided with each holder a plurality of removable buttonhole-pieces 6, so that when one of the latter is soiled or worn it may be readily replaced by another.

In Figs. 2 and 3 the fabric A, with a frayed buttonhole a, is indicated. The buttonholepiece, ifmade from'ordinary woven or felted fabric, will have the buttonhole worked in it in the usual way; but where the fabric is hard and firm the hole may be formed by frayed buttonhole and clamp the piece 6 in place thereon.

In Fig. 9 is shown a cheap form of the frame made from a single piece of springwire, forming the ring plates 1 and 2, having an integral spring-hinge 4. The drawing shows the member of the clamping-frame held open fol-convenience of illustration; but the spring 4 tends to close or press them together.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A buttonhole substitute comprising a piece of flexible fabric or material having a flexible buttonhole in it, and a hinged clasping-holder for said piece, said holder being adapted to hold the said buttonhole-piece firmly in place on the garment, substantially as set forth.

2. A device for the purpose specified, comprising two riug plates or frames hinged together and provided with a spring at the hinge and suitable spurs to bite into the goods, and a removable buttonhole-piece in one of said ring plates and provided with a buttonhole, said piece being of flexible fabric, substantially as set forth.

3. Adevice for the purpose specified, comprising'two ring plates or frames hinged together and provided at the hinge with a spring for opening and closing them, one of said frames being concave on its face which is applied to the fabric, and the other convex on its face which is applied to the fabric, and a piece of flexible fabric held removably in the first-named plate and having a buttonhole in it, substantially as set forth.

4. A buttonhole substitute comprising a piece of flexible fabric having a flexible, thread-worked buttonhole in it, and a clasping-holder for said piece, the said holder consisting of two frames connected together at one side and adapted to embrace the edge of the garment and hold the buttonhole-piece in place on the garment, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 11th day of November, 1902, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN BOYLE.

Witnesses:

PETER A. Boss, I-I. ALAN OoNNnTT. 

